ACCI and CIPE Sign MoU in Launching National Business Agenda, Round II

Tuesday, 03 June 2014 11:50

Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI) and CIPE (Center for International Private Enterprises) signed a MoU on mutual cooperation in launching National Business Agenda (NBA)
as regionally in Afghanistan. The survey will launch in Balkh, Herat and Nangarhar provinces first.

Based on the MoU, ACCI will represent private sector in addressing the challenges facing private sector and acquiring possible solutions and recommendations and CIPE will provide financial and technical assistance in according its experiences in conducting such national business agenda as nationally and internationally.

ACCI and CIPE signed the MoU in attending national and international media on 3 May 2014.

Mr. Khan Jan Alkozay, Acting-Chairman of ACCI highlighted importance of the NBA and also underlined problematic transit matter with neighboring countries, infrastructures, tax collection system as major challenges facing private sector. He said that the NBA should identify the challenges in details and present possible solutions and recommendations to policy makers.

Mr. Atiqullah Nusrat, Acting-CEO of ACCI technically talked about the project and said the ACCI and CIPE will conduct the project through several working committees in organizing conferences in provinces and also follow up implementation locally and nationally with government respective entities.

Mr. Mohammad Nasib, Head of CIPE said that paying attention to the suggestions and demands from private sector by government bodies and implementation of the demands is very important than compilation of NBA. “We need a national will for removing the barriers facing business in Afghanistan.” He said

National Business Agenda is very important document for business community. This paper contains recommendations from private sector for creation favorable business environment in Afghanistan in purpose development of Afghanistan’s economy. The NBA encourages entrepreneurs to bring their skills to reform public policies, laws and regulations, set priorities and bring their ideas to policy makers. NBA addresses the challenges, obstacles which hinder business activities and then present specific amendments to the relevant legislation to remove the obstacles.

It’s mentionable; ACCI and CIPE together conducted National Business Agenda for first time in Afghanistan since 2 – 28 December 2010 through questioning 1300 entrepreneurs in five zones and result was published in a book and then presented to H.E. Mohammad Karim Khalili, 2nd Vice-President and respective ministers by an official conference.

The achievements Affected by the NBA is listed below:

1- Relative decline in extorting illegal taxes and extortion by a number of government entities;

2- Amendment some problematic rules and regulations such as Income Tax Act, Customs Tariff, licensing system for trade and investment;

3- Exemption or reduction of custom tariffs for raw materials and machinery of factories;

4- Establishment of High Economic Council chaired by President,

5- Compilation of Investment Incentive Policy;

6- Reduction of transit problems with neighboring and regional countries, especially with Pakistan;